Structural assemblies



Dec- 8 195 v w. M. CLELLAND ETA!- STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES Filed July 29,1954 United States Patent 2,915,892 STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES William M.Clelland, Westfield, N.J., Jack P. Wilson,

Wynnewood, and Donald C. Glassford, Philadelphia,

Pa., assignors to Proctor & Schwartz, Iuc., Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application July 29, 1954, Serial No.446,583

1 Claim. (CI. 72-14 The present invention relates to new and novelimprovements in structural assemblies for the housings and enclosures ofindustrial equipment, and more particularly to a novel compositeconcrete and lining assembly for ovens, silo towers, spray dryers andvarious other equipment.

Such structures as heretofore constructed, and particularly those oflarge size in the form of towers have been fabricated of heavy weldedplate to withstand the forces due to wind loading in hurricane areas andthe ficient strength to meet all requirements to resist wind forces andas a support for heavy machinery in association with an internal metallining.

Another object is to provide a novel framework in combination with aconcrete housing wherein none of the framework is exposed on the outsideof the concrete wall.

Another object is to provide a metal framework housed between aninternal metal lining and a concrete wall,

such wall embedding a circumferential portion of the. I

framework and forming a space with the lining for the other portion ofthe framework.

A further object is to provide a dryer assembly having a stainless steellining for smoothness and cleanliness so necessary 'in pharmaceuticaland food drying.

A further object is to provide a metal framework in combination with aconcrete wall wherein an inner metal lining for the framework isinsulated from the, concrete wall.

made for free expansion of the'framework.

These and other objects of the invention and the numerous features anddetails of the construction and assembly of the elements thereof, arehereinafter fully set forth and described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a spray tower-dryer embodying the novel membersand constructions of the invention, and here shown illustratively in theform of a cylinder;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary circumferential sectional view on an enlargedscale and taken in the horizontal plane of the junction of a verticaland a horizontal strut;

v A still further object is to provide a dryer formed of, A concrete anda metal framework wherein provision is Fig. 4 is a fragmentarycircumferential sectional view showing another form of structural memberassembled according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary circumferential sectionalview showing a modifiedstructural assembly of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the junction between a vertical columnstrut and transverse strut members including an anchoring gusset;

Fig. 6a is a fragmentary elevational view of the disclosure in Fig. 6showing the gusset in full lines;

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of the structural member shown inFig. 4; and i Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified structuraljunction similar to that shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings and particularly Figs. 1 and .2, a towerstructure is shown as generally comprising a concrete wall 10 housing astructural sheet metal framework 11 in such circumferential relation asto provide a heat insulating space 12, which in some instances can befilled with mat or other insulation. One form of structuralvmember usedto form the framework comprises two similar sections or lengths ofrolled sheet metal secured together and having the required thickness orgauge to impart the necessary strength and rigidity to the member.Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, each section of the member is in the form ofa channel having walls 13 diverging from opposite sides of a base 14,and each wall terminating in a reversely bent end 15 spaced from itswall to form an auxiliary lengthwise channel 16. As a completestructural member the two sections are united by welding or otherwisejoining the bases 14 together in 'back-to-back relation, thus bringingthe side channels 16 into juxtaposed relation with the ends 15 spacedapart, thereby forming a generally tubular head of generally I-sectionhaving a slot running the length thereof. structural members thus shapedare used as vertical columns 17 and horizontal stringers 18 joinedtogether 'to form a framework such as shown in Fig. 2. 7

As shown in Figs. 6 and 6a the verticaland horizontal strut members areconnected together by a gusset 20 so attached that the meeting ends ofcolumns sections17 are spaced one from another while the columnstraddling stringers 18 are spaced from the column. Thus the ends of thecolumn members terminate in a clearance of gap 21 and the respectiveends of the stringers 18 terminate in clearances or gaps 22. Theseclearances 21 and 22 are filled with the concrete forming the outer walland thus compensate for strut expansion within the limits of theclearances provided. When the concrete wall has set each gusset 20 ispreferably removed to relieve the members for free expansion, and topermit the in- 'stallation of a metal'lining as hereinafter set forth.

- metal lining 23 is place. The lining 23 is formed bypanelsections'attached to the. inner tubular .he ad fof the strutfmember with'tl 1ej joint between the, panel sections closed by a snap-on strip 24.-In pouring the'c'oncrete a temporary wood spacer is positioned incontact with the outer face of the lining 23 to provide acircumferential space 25 for insulating purposes. This space may befilled with a suitable insulating material such as insulating concreteor may be left vacant as desired for the particular installation. Theconcrete is poured between this wood spacer and an outer form, notshown. It will thus be seen that the novel assembly of the inventionprovides a framework in which a circumferential outer portion isembedded in concrete as a support while the inner circumferentialportion supports the lining 23 in spaced relation from the concrete wallupon the removal of the inner concrete form spacer. An importanthorizontal strutscanalso in any particular case.

. if.. "1 3 V advantage .ofthis assembly .is thatnometal .of theframework is exposed on the outside of the wall 10.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 17 the striut memberisiaa'half :leng'th ,ofthe member shown in more;

Z'Eig. i3;iand comprises a T-section having a lengthwise rib 26 andtubular head 27, splitlengthwise byga slot '28, for association with thesnap :In Lthis instance the rib :26 i is ;:plates'30 welded to the rib26 provided with anchoring at spaced intervals and joint strip 24 asdescribed.

-projecting rfronropposite sides to form astable anchor 10 when moldedinto the concrete. anishownin Fig. 4. In thisqform,.of. theinvention/the concrete .wall 10 is poured betweeneformstoprovide an airgap space .31 with the Flining, 23. :It is to be Iunderstod thattheT-section can be used for either horizontal or vertical members .in.comibina-tion. with'full section members but, preferably, the

construction willbe'full I-sec-tion verticals for strength V =and'T-section gbowed "horizontal members .for' low cost.

i, ;,In"ther form of. the invention shown in Fig.5 .a strut -member732., like that shown in Fig. 3 is used, the outer I ;.orembedded headof which is anchored to wire mesh 33 mused as a reinforcement for theconcrete. This anchoriing includes a strap nut 34 seated in the struthead and clarnped in place by a bolt 35 passing through thestrut slotand having its head bearing against a clamp plate ..36. 7 Thus the nut34 and plate 36 clamp the strut and ;.reinforcement together. Asassembled the lining 23 is {spaced from the wall 10 to ll hi8 latter maybe 'filled withconcrete, also for insulating Pu p V Constructionsutilizing a combination of the I- and T-seetion structural members mayalso be employed as desired. Thus, in Fig. :8 of the drawings there isdisclosed the junction of a structure in which the vertical provide aninsulating air space.

columns consist .of I -section structural members and thehorizontalstruts consist of T-section structural members.

".This is a preferred form of construction because the I-sec- Ltion;vertical columns provide adequate strength to 'the structure while theT-sectionhorizontal struts cost much less than thelsection members topermit of their use in the structure as horizontal struts. :Of course,the, reverse of this arrangement, namely, a. structure having T-shapedvertical columns and I -shaped be employed it found'desirable ".It willnow beapparent that a complete, unitary structure has been devisedwherein a housing of sufiicient s'trcngth to meet :all requirements inuse is provided in' association with avnovel internalframeworkincluding. I a relatively'thim-smooth metallining. Thus astructure of concrete or o the necessary strength and makes .possibletheuseof steel V er relatively cheap material provides "orother metal as aliningat a reducedthicknesS because lining strength requirements areaminimum. Thein- "ternal structure might I be stainless steel, aluminum,;,or other IYPe of. special metal required for the purpose. ;In

or pharmaceutical I u I oribiological drying-a .stamlesssteellimng is anecessit and in'some cases of yet have sufiicient strength 7 ,opening to.each chamber, wall panel members interiorly chemical drying aluminumand copper. maybe anecessity "along 'wrth' stainless. steel, and thisinvention makes such 1, mammal, possible by rea'sonof red ucedcost ascompared tended to limit the invention to such disclosure and' changesand modifications may be made and incorporated therein within the scopeof the following claim.

We claim: 7 7 u A' tankstructure comprising; a generally cylindricalouter concrete wall, 'a plurality of parallel metal structural membersextending longitudinally of the interior of said 'wall and constitutingreinforcing and supporting columns extending longitudinally of saidtank, said longitudinally extending structural members being spaced apredetermined'distance apart, a plurality of arcuate metal structuralmembers extending circumferentially of the interior of said Wall andbeing positioned intermediate said longitudinally extending structuralmembers and constituting stringers extending circumferentially of saidtank, said arcuate structural .members being of'lesser extent than saidpredetermined distance between adjacent membersof said longitudinallyextending structural members to provide a clearance space between eachend of said arcuate structural members and said longitudinally:extending structural members to permit relatively free expansion of themembers relative to one another, said longitudinallyextending structuralmembers and arcuate structural members having their outer portionsinterlockingly embedded in the concrete wall with their inner por- 30.tions projecting from said wall inwardly'of said tank a predetermineddistance, the projecting portions of: said longitudinally extendingstructural members and said arcuate structural members having spacedapartside walls terminating in spaced flange portions extending inwardlytoward each other, saidside walls and flange portions dcfining thereWithin'a continuous shallow chamber extending the full length of each ofsaid longitudinally extending structural :members and. arcuatestructural members and the corresponding edge flanges of the membershaving their free edges spaced. apart to provide a continuous slot ofsaid tank overlying said longitudinally extending struc-.tural.membersand arcuate. structural members and spaced thereby fromsaidconcrete wall a predetermined distance, andmeans engaged with 'saidpanel members and projecting through said slots'interiorly of thechambers in said longitudinally extending structural members to secure-the panels thereto.

References Cited in'the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS11,623,917- 7 V v Gaudian Apr. 5, 1927 2,009,606 I .Diflienderfer July30, 1935 2 116530: McCabe V May 10, 1938 7 2,116,533 I McCabe j May 10,.1938

, 2;355,947 V Bondy et al. Aug. 15, :1944 2,382,171 Pomykala Aug. 14,.1945 2,633,945 'Millier .Apr. .7, 1953 2,815,832 -Schwartz -QDec. 10,1957

